Entrepreneur and in-store marketing specialist Ed Tchai (1953) is co-owner of, and adviser to Tchai International.
In January 2017 he stepped down from the Board of Management, having served the company for more than 40 years as Managing Director.
After completing his formal education and training in retail,
he worked in a department store (Vroom & Dreesmann) and a bank (ABN) in the first half of the 1970s.
At the request of his father, founder Jan Tchai,
Ed joined the Board of Management of Tchai Plastics in 1976 and became responsible for sales.
Ten years later, he was appointed managing director of the company. Jan Tchai retired in 1988 and Ed and his brother Ken,
who was responsible for the production side, became the majority shareholders.
Ed’s vision is that shopping should be an experience, an adventure for shoppers.
The company quickly developed into a multinational organisation providing in-store communication solutions,
such as display materials, shelf systems, digital media, shop-in-shops and complete retail interiors.
Tchai consequently started working with production partners worldwide in order to service major brand manufacturers and retailers
with an international consumer base.
Currently Tchai works for brand icons like Chiquita, Maxi-Cosi, Nike, Bugaboo, Samsung, Harman Kardon, Tommy Hilfiger, Iittala,
Puma and Luxaflex.
Living up to the corporate slogan ‘We make it happen’, the 50 staff members of Tchai International conceptualise,
produce and implement product presentations for brands and retailers.
They go to the max to fulfil their clients’ requests, even if it means taking a time squeeze and financial limitations into account.
Ed’s son and daughter, Edward and Kim, joined the Board of Management in 2010.
Following Ed’s retirement in January 2017, the third generation is now leading the company and owns the majority of the shares.
Ed is still active in the business as an in-store marketing specialist.
In November 2016, Ed joined the Board of Directors at Shop! USA and was made a member of the Global Council of Shop!
This global non-profit trade association (formerly known as A.R.E./POPAI The New Association)
is dedicated to enhancing retail environments and experiences and represents more than 2,000 member companies worldwide,
including Tchai International.
Ed and his wife live near Rotterdam and in southern France; they have four grandchildren.
edtchai@tchai.nl
